Faucet Trend: Nature-Driven Design

Leonardo da Vinci said, "Water is the driver of Nature." In today's faucets, water (in fact, all of nature) has also begun driving design.

Companies like Kohler are now incorporating nature's shapes and patterns into their faucets, says Sara Maduscha, product manager for Kohler. One striking Kohler faucet is Symbol, which mimics the way water arcs from a fountain. The intent behind Symbol, Sara says, is to impart the feeling of relaxation we have when surrounded by the natural world.

Another faucet that takes its cue from the great outdoors is the Finial Avian, a graceful, two-handled tap that depicts birds with their beaks nestled inward. Kohler also brings the elements into its design process with products like the Kohler Rain Showerhead, which is inspired by a gentle downpour.

Kohler is just one of several companies using nature as a platform for product design. According to Jon Buss, president of Humans.ca, a Canadian company that represents manufacturers of bathroom products, "There's a lot going on with the organic look. It's very timely."